What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Barre has the most homeowners (82.7%).

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Barre	Wilder
People
Population	1,346Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT	45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT
	South Barre and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	11.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Wilder and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	60.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,050±$16kHighest 4% below VT	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT
	South Barre and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,600±$25kLowest 19% below VT	$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT
	Wilder and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT	$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT
	South Barre and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Lowest 6% below VT	$5,505Highest 9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±40.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wilder and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 36% below VT	17 minHighest 29% below VT
Work from home	16.5%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9%	12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Barre and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.